SIX VANCOUVER DRINKS EVERY COCKTAIL AFICIONADO SHOULD KNOW

Vancouver’s cocktail scene is killing it. And that means you should take a time-out from the classics and order up an original drink crafted by the city’s insanely innovative bartenders. Here are six to get you started:

Royal Dinette’s Burning Man. Bar Manager Kaitlyn Stewart captures Black Rock City’s spirit of freedom and self-expression with this patron-focused cocktail starring Kombucha brewed in-house. The customer picks his poison – vodka, gin, pisco or cachaça – and the rest is topped with soda. Like the girl of your dreams, this cocktail will keep you guessing: the flavour of Kombucha varies between batches, so it’s never the same drink twice.

Lobby Lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim’s The Wild Road. Inspired by Dior’s latest men’s cologne, Sauvage, this intoxicating drink hints at herbs, spices and bergamot with a subtle woodsy finish. Each glass arrives with a sample of Sauvage clipped to the rim, plunging imbibers into a seductive, sensory experience.

Bauhaus’s Buttermilk Margarita. Creamy, tart and unexpected, this decadent drink features Reposado tequila, buttermilk, quince, lime juice and agave syrup. All you cocktail fanatics who claim to have tried it all – this drink is for you.

L’Abattoir’s Mr. Wolfe. A twist on the popular classic, the Boulevardier, rye whiskey is stirred with Barolo Chinato (a premium vermouth made from Nebbiolo grapes), Cynar, a dash of honey, and house-made cold brew coffee. The cocktail was inspired by the eponymous character Winston Wolf from Pulp Fiction.

Seawall Bar + Grill at The Westin Bayshore’s brand-new Crafted Cocktails program. Every month, Seawall’s bartenders are given free reign to come up with a feature, out-of-the-box libation. The only requirement: ingredients must be all-natural and spirits must be sourced from local distilleries. One titillating example: the Maple Pecan Old Fashioned, a decadent blend of spiced pecan-infused Angostura rum, salted maple syrup, Aztec chocolate bitters and dried banana. Now quit salivating and start drinking.